Child marriage has long been a social scourge in Nepal, fueled further by cultural practices, poverty, illiteracy, and gender inequality. However, with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli recently extending his support for the 'Child Marriage-Free Nepal National Campaign,' the country's renewed commitment to eradicating this evil has heightened optimism. It is a fact that many boys and girls, especially in rural areas and belonging to the underprivileged groups, are given in marriage by their parents even before the age of 18. This makes it difficult for authorities, stakeholders, activists, and campaigners to track and tackle the problem. Early marriage is prevalent mostly in rural belts and among marginalized groups, where poverty remains a key factor in marrying off girls early, since it is often seen as a way to relieve economic strains on families. Parents and members of these communities tend to practice early marriage as a way to ensure their daughters' better future and survival. Illiteracy and a lack of knowledge aggravate the situation for everyone concerned.
Nepal has strict laws against child marriage. Early marriage is prohibited under the Civil Code, punishable under the 2017 National Penal Code, and barred by the 2018 Children's Act. While these regulations have deterred early and child marriages, these legal instruments have not been able to stop it altogether. Numerous agencies are engaged in campaigns ranging from local activism to provincial-scale enterprises, to discourage child marriage. Different UN agencies in Nepal have supported local initiatives to reduce child and early marriage. These efforts have made some headway yet poor coordination, limited resources, and a lack of political will continue to hinder the fight to finish. Provincial governments have agreed to develop collaborative alliances by February 2025, indicating a multipronged strategy to success. The goal of establishing local coordination by April 2025 is aimed at resolving policy gaps, supporting community law enforcement, and increasing awareness. Madhesh-based campaigns, such as, "Beti Jindabad" and "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao" demonstrate how region-targeted initiatives may address local socio-economic issues related to early marriage.
Child labour, child marriage still rife in Dang
As the problem of early marriages continues to plague our communities, a comprehensive solution becomes even more necessary. Authorities must enforce tough laws via penalties and monitoring measures, as well as punish offenders. Federal, provincial, and local governments must collaborate to obtain better results. Educating girls and raising parental awareness is critical, and giving girls access to a high-quality education prevents marriage at an early age. Scholarships, awareness initiatives, and economic incentives for families to educate daughters all play a vital role in altering girls' mindsets. Another critical component is community engagement, which should include religious leaders, local influencers, and child marriage survivors working together to address this evil. Dowry, elopement fears, and patriarchal issues need to be addressed too. To sum up, although the government's recent commitment is a welcome step, doubt regarding its success persists. We've seen our successive governments, including the ones led by Prime Minister Oli, come into office and make many promises, like starting railway and shipping services, and connecting every household to gas pipelines. The latest commitment to make Nepal a child-marriage-free nation is certainly a welcome announcement but it all depends whether the government takes the lead in delivering on its commitment. Engagement of the National Child Rights Council (NCRC) and Just Rights for Children (JRC), who seek to end child marriage by 2030, has raised some optimism for success. The target date also corresponds to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. However, with just six years remaining to meet goals, the government, concerned authorities, and campaign groups must pull their acts together to eliminate child and early marriages.
